Suction cleaning apparatus



YApril 8,1930. E. F. MARMI-:T f 1,753,799

sUcTIoN CLEANING APBARATUS f June 15.l 19a? y Patented Apr. 8, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE F. MARTINET, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,ASSIGNOR TO THE P. A. GEIER COMPANY, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0FOHIO SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Application :filed June 15,

My invention relatesl to improvements in suction cleaning apparatus,and, more particularly, to the suction cleaning nozzle and itsassociated removable and adjustable brush attachment adapted to beactuated into a plurality of operative positions or out of operativerelation within the nozzle. The object of my invention is to provide areadily rencwable brush attachment, preferably interiorly of a suitablyshaped nozzle, which will be adapted for all of the various requirementsmade upon a suction cleaning tool of this class.

In Letters Patent to Robertson, No. 1,382,-

548, June 21, 1921, there is shown and de scribed a retractible brushmember positioned rearwardly of a suction cleaner nozzle, which isadapted to be actuated into spring-pressed, floating relation withrespect to the surface that is being cleaned; the brush being incapableof ready removal and replacement.

The present improvement contemplates further features of advantage andinvention, comprising a readily removable and replaceable brush memberdisposed interiorly of the suitably recessed nozzle, which brush isprovided with three distinct positions, ali'ording operative andinoperative relation respecting the associated nozzle. Thus, in additionto affording a completely retracted and lloa'ting position, respectivelyfor my improved brush member, a third or fully-extended and lockedposition is afforded for the brush, which, moreover, may be readilyremoved for cleaning or replacement, as may be found necessary.

It has been found in practice that while the floating, spring-pressedrelation of the brush commonly is required for cleaning rugs and floorcoverings, a rigidly attached and fully extended brush member often ismore effective for heavier cleaning operations, and particularly forcleaning adjacent bare iioors bordering the rugs, without readjustmentof the height of the suction cleaning nozzle. These requirements all areadmirably met by my improved construction, the details of which I naybest be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a suction cleaning 1927. Serial No. 198,957. R S SU nozzle in side elevation, but partially broken away and in section, towhich my improvements are applied,

big. 2 is a complementary fragment in side or end view,

Fig. 3 is a view of the entire suction cleaner and nozzle with brushattachment in side view,

Fig. 4 is a rear View of the suction cleaner n ozzle upon a materiallylarger scale, partlally broken away and in section, showing the brush inits retracted position,

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the adjustmcnt of the cam plate toinsure the floating relation of the brush, and

Fig. 6 is another similar view illustrating the locked and fullyextended position of the brush, from which it may also be removed.Throughout the several figures of the drawings I have employed the samecharacter of reference to indicate similar parts.

Referring initially to Fig. 3, showing a portable suction cleaner ahaving a nozzle b forwardly positioned thereon and equipped with myinstant improvements, it will be seen that the relative height of thenozzle opening may be regulated by the screw c acting upon the pivotedbracket c of the rear supporting wheel c. By this adjustment the entiresuction cleaner and nozzle may be rocked on the axis of the front wheelsd. This serves, in turn, to regulate the height of the nozzle openingwith respect to the floor or cleaned surface.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the brush attachment is positionedinteriorly and at the rear of the nozzle opening b within a longitudinalrecess formed by an integral shoulder o as a part of the nozzle casting.This shoulder, in connection with the longitudinal L-sha-ped mountingstrip e, affords an effective air passage avoiding the formation of eddycurrents, with certain settling out of the dust and refuse. Exteriorlyof the nozzle is a soft rubber bumper b* terminally attached at its endsto the ends of the nozzle casting.

The removable brush member f is retained normally in position by meansof the stud f engaging one end, and the spring-pressed stud f normally,but removably engaging the other end when the brush is released by thecam plate. This cam plate, as shown in full and dotted lines in itsthree controlling positions, serves toy regulate the operative conditionof the brush member. As show n in Fig. 5,.the cam plate g has twolongitudinal slots g and an intermediate three-position slot g withrespect to stud or operating member f3 extending therethrough rearwardlyof the brush. When the cam plate is in the position indicated in Fig. 4,said stud 1s engaged by the upper branch g3 of irregular slot g and thebrush is maintained locked in its fully retracted position against thetension of bowed spring k. Thismaintains the brush in inoperativerelation with respect to the nozzle for ordinary air cleaning operation.

UponV partially withdrawing the cam plate toward the left, however, asindicated in Fig. 5, the stud f3 is released within the openintermediate portion of the slot g, thus permitting the brush a free orfloating relation withinv the nozzle, against the tension of its spring,to co-operate with the cleaning action of the air currents generated bythe suction cleaner. Preferably the height of the nozzle opening abovethe cleaned surface is adjusted by means of the screw c, and thisrelation of the brush is one admirably adapted for air cleaning andbrushing the dirt concurrently from rugs.

Of course, it is equally desirable to clean the adjacent bare iioor andbordering edges of rugs and other floor coverings and this preferably isaccomplished without readjust ing the height of the nozzle opening, sothat the cleaning operation may not be materially interrupted.Accordingly, the cam plate is fully withdrawn toward the left, asindicated in Fig. 6, whereupon the stud f3 will be locked in the lowerbranch g4 of slot g and the brush thereby is firmly locked in its fullyextended position to compensate for the slightly lower level of the barefloor. as compared with the surface of the rug. This rigid position andrelation of the brush, moreover, is more effective for certain kinds ofcleaning, such as the removal of caked dirt or lint.

It will be understood that with the ready movement of the cam plate tothe right either of the other positions of the brush immediately isavailable. In order to insure the retention of an adjusted position ofthe cam plate, rear recesses i', zv' and s are provided therein adaptedalternatively to be engaged by the spring-pressed ball z' providedintermediately in the nozzle casting.

It will be observed that the lower branch g* ofthe slot g is open at theextreme right to register with the intermediate slot y' provided in therear wall of the nozzle to accommodate the movement of the stud f3. Thisaccordingly permits the ready removal of the brush for cleaning orreplacement merely by releasing one end through retractin thespring-pressed stud on the right. therwise, the coaction o the studs f',f and f3, serves to lock the brush in the extended position indicated inFig. 6, a's already described.

Although the brush member is positioned interiorly of the nozzle infully protected relation, and without in any way impair-ing its eiciencin the compact relation herein provided, t e slotted nozzle andactuating cam permit the immediate actuation of the brush member intoany of its three alternative positions, or its removal and replacement,with as much ease as though said brush member were exteriorly placed.

Having now described apparatus embodying my invention, and the manner ofits use, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, thefollowing:

l. The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of the class described,of a brush mem ber adjustably positioned adjacent the mouth of saidnozzle, an actuating membe'r'connecb ed to said brush member andextending exteriorly of said nozzle, and a plate having a cam slot, withupper and lower locking branches, engaging said actuating member andadapted to lock said actuating member in two alternative positions tofully extend or fully retract said brush member.

2. The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of the class described,of a brush member adjustably positioned within the mouth of said nozzle,a spring normally maintaining said brush member in resilient oatingrelation with respect to the surface being cleaned, a brush actuatingmember connected to said brush member and extending exteriorly of saidnozzle, and a slidable plate having a cam slot receiving said actuatingmember and being adapted to lock said actuating member in twoalternative positions to fully extend or fully retract said brushmember.

3. The combination with a vertically slotted suction cleaner nozzle ofthe class described, of a brush member adjustably positioned within themouth of said nozzle, a plate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, saidplate having formed therein a combined cam and locking slot, and anactuating member engaging said brush member and extending through saidslots.

4f. The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of the classdescribed, of a brush member adjustably positioned adjacent the mouth ofsaid nozzle, a plate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, said platehaving formed therein a slot comprising a divergent cam portion and anupper and lower locking portion, and

an actuating member engaging said brush 1 member, extending through saidslot and adapted to be engaged in the locking portion of said slot tolock said brush member in its adjusted position.

5. The combination with a suction cleaner lli l nozzle of the classdescribed, of a brush member adj ustably positioned adjacent the mouthof said nozzle, a plate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, said platehaving formed therein a combined cam and locking slot comprising aninclined portion and oppositely extending locking portions formingoppositely disposed locking shoulders, and a brush actuating memberconnected to said brush member, extending through said slot and adaptedto engage said locking shoulders to lock said brush member in itsextended and retracted positions, respectively.

6. The combination with a vertically slotted suction cleaner nozzle ofthe class described, of a brush member adjustably positioned within themouth of said nozzle, a plate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, saidplate having a slot therein providing a cam face and upper and lowerlocking faces, and a brush actuating member connected to said brushmember, extending through said slots and adapted to engage said lockingfaces to lock said brush member in its extended and retracted positions,respectively.

7. The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of the class described,of a brush member'mounted thereon adjacent the mouth of said nozzle, aplate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, said nozzle having a verticalslot therein, said plate having formed therein av cam slot comprising anintermediate expanded inclined portion and connected oppositelyextendino` substantially horizontal upper and lower locing portions,forming locking faces, a brush actuating member connected to said brushmember and extending through said slots and adapted to engage saidlocking faces to lock said brush member in its extended and retractedpositions, respectively, and a spring engaging said brush member 'tomaintain said brush member in floating relation with rerespect to thesurface being cleaned when the actuating member is positioned in theintermediate portion of said cam slot;

In testimony whereof I do now aiiix my signature.

EUGENE F. MARTINET.

